Easy swing bridges and no reeds - is this the K and A?

Saturday, 04 June 2011 10:04

We have heard stories about the state of the K and A - we know that at times the locks and swing bridges can be "challenging"! The vegetation can be such that it is difficult to "rough moor" and, as already mentioned, the water level is down; but there were other surprises in store for us!

We were on the look out for the barge above. Unity is now owned by new people and is one of the most memorable boats on the mid western section of the K and A. It is a replica Kennet Barge ......

The original Unity was the last trading barge built by Robbins Lane and Pinniger of Honey Street. She was built in 1896 and continued in use until 1933. Honey Street was almost wholly owned by this company, housing its workers. They built boats, traded and had saw mills,  making Honey Street an important trading point for the canal. George Hams, the master of Unity, carried tin plate boxes to Bristol and his return cargo from Avonmouth was deal boards and scantlings. His son, Tom, later carried acid in carboys for the fertilising factory owned by Robbins Lane and Pinniger. This cargo was considered too hazardous to transport by rail!

Our first swing bridge was at Allington. Something new to us (on the K and A) was the use of a windlass to unlock the bridge. Gone are the padlocks and chains from all but two of the swing bridges on the canal. However, the narrowboat moored by the swing bridge was normal!

Waiting at Allington swing bridge, towpath on left

After the bridge was a narrow channel formed by reeds - this again was the "norm" at this bridge!

Narrow reedy channel

But there was a surprise for us a little further on - no reeds where there had been a long, narrow channel. The K and A Trust volunteers have been out clearing much of these sections so now they are easy to navigate and pass. Thank you!

Where have all the reeds gone?

The ubiquitous boats were at Bishops Cannings swing bridge, including a BW work boat just before the landing on the off side. This bridge also has small landings on the towpath side: sensible, as the locking mechanism is on that side.

Bishops Canning swing bridge ahead

and behind us - a coat of paint would not go amiss!

We planned to moor at Horton Bridge, either before it on the visitor moorings or after, below the Bridge Inn. There was room on the VMs, but we would have been a foot or two from the bank. The moorings at the Bridge Inn were empty so we moored up there. Handy to pop up the steps for an evening drink. We were joined by two hire boats later in the afternoon.

Moored at the Bridge Inn moorings

Our evening drink turned into a birthday party, as when we arrived in the pub we recognised (and were recognised) by the Kirbys; it was Elaine's birthday! Adrian Softley (the ex owner of Unity) is still the landlord - for a month or so, as apparently they have sold up. It was good to see them all and catch up with the news on the K and A and when glasses of champagne were poured we were included!

How many more folks would remember us ....?

Kennet and Avon Canal, Pewsey to Horton (via Milkhouse Water winding hole)
4 hours 24 minutes, 10.81 miles, 0 locks